Latest news with #DavidChew
AsiaOne
18-06-2025
- AsiaOne
11 arrested in joint operation by Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia police against scam syndicate, Singapore News
A joint operation targeting a transnational scam syndicate saw the arrest of 11 individuals aged between 24 and 48 across Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. The operation, which took place from April to June this year, involved the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) and Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), said SPF in a statement released on Tuesday (June 17). During the operation, officers from SPF's Commercial Affairs Department (CAD), Criminal Investigation Department and Police Intelligence Department worked closely with their counterparts from HKPF and RMP to target multiple locations across the three jurisdictions. Investigations revealed that the syndicate had established a sophisticated criminal network spanning Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. The syndicate utilised Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Global System for Mobile (GSM) gateway devices, allowing scam calls to be placed from computers and laptops to mobile phones. It was also discovered that the syndicate employed an advanced, cloud-based remote operating system. This enabled them to make fraudulent calls through local mobile phone networks despite being stationed elsewhere, leading victims in Singapore to believe they were receiving calls from within the country. Police seized 226 GSM gateway devices — 76 from Singapore — while conducting raids at various locations in the three jurisdictions. 141 of them were confiscated in Hong Kong. Among the 11 individuals who were arrested for their suspected involvement in the syndicate was a 29-year-old male suspect. He was arrested in Malaysia on June 3 before being handed over to Singapore and charged in court two days later for being a party to a criminal conspiracy to commit cheating offences. If convicted, he could face an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine. Commenting on the operation, CAD Director David Chew stressed that "a transnational threat requires a transnational response". "Scam syndicates build sophisticated transnational cloud network infrastructure to launch attacks on our citizenry," he said. "This successful operation demonstrates the strong partnership between SPF, HKPF and RMP to combat these transnational scam syndicates." "The coordinated efforts with our foreign counterparts have been instrumental in arresting the criminals maintaining this criminal infrastructure and dismantling it," he added. Chew also assured that the SPF will continue to work closely with its partners to detect, deter and disrupt such criminal activities and prosecute those behind them to the fullest extent of the law. Those who wish to learn more about scams can visit or call the ScamShield Helpline at 1799, the police added. Anyone with information on such scams may call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit a report online at All information will be kept strictly confidential. [[nid:718792]]
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Global anti-scam blitz: 106 nabbed, S$7.7m seized in Singapore; Malaysia among seven countries in joint operation
SINGAPORE, June 5 — A month-long transnational anti-scam operation involving seven territories led to the arrest of over 1,800 people, including 106 in Singapore, and the seizure of more than S$7.69 million (RM25 million) locally, police said. Conducted from April 28 to May 28, the operation involved collaboration between Singapore's Anti-Scam Command and agencies in Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Thailand, and Macau, according to a report in The Straits Times today. Those arrested in Singapore were linked to over 1,300 scam cases, which resulted in losses of about S$39.3 million, the Singapore Police Force said. In total, more than 33,900 people aged between 14 and 81 were investigated across all participating territories for involvement in over 9,200 scam cases, with victims reporting losses exceeding S$289 million. In total, more than 33,900 people aged between 14 and 81 were investigated across all participating territories for involvement in over 9,200 scam cases, with victims reporting losses exceeding S$289 million. — Singapore Police Force pic The scam types targeted included government official impersonation, investment scams, rental scams, internet love scams, friend impersonation scams, job scams, and e-commerce scams. Singaporean suspects are being investigated for offences such as abetting cheating, unauthorised computer access, assisting in criminal conduct, and unlawful disclosure of passwords or access codes tied to national digital identity services. Director of the Commercial Affairs Department David Chew said the joint operation underscores the need for a unified global response to tackle increasingly sophisticated scam syndicates. He highlighted the role of Operation Frontier+, a cross-border anti-scam platform launched in October 2024 that now includes 10 jurisdictions, in enhancing intelligence-sharing and coordinated enforcement. Chew added that the initiative is working to expand its network to improve global enforcement efforts and ensure scammers have no safe haven.
AsiaOne
05-06-2025
- AsiaOne
Over 1,800 arrested in cross-border anti-scam ops with loses amounting to $289m, Singapore News
Over 1,800 suspects were arrested by law enforcement agencies in seven Asian territories including Singapore in a month-long crackdown on scams. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a press release on Wednesday (June 4) that it had collaborated with anti-scam teams from Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, the Maldives, Thailand and Macao for the operation conducted between April 28 and May 28. Across the territories, 33,900 people aged between 14 and 81 were investigated for their suspected involvement in scam activities. SPF said they are believed to be involved in more than 9,200 scam cases, with victims reportedly losing over $289 million in total. More than 32,600 bank accounts suspected to be linked to scams were also detected and frozen by the seven law enforcement agencies, with more than $26.2 million seized. 106 arrested in Singapore In Singapore, 545 people were investigated during the operation, and another 106 people were arrested. They were involved in more than 1,300 local scam cases which resulted in losses of approximately $39.3 million, according to SPF. The police here also seized more than $7.69 million in 714 frozen bank accounts. At the start of the operation in end-April, SPF's Anti-Scam Centre foiled two separate cases of Chinese services impersonation scams with assistance from Malaysia's National Scam Response Centre. The two victims transferred $25,000 and $45,000 respectively to Singapore bank accounts provided by the scammer, before realising they had fallen for a scam. SPF said its Anti-Scam Centre analysed the funds trail and found that part of their funds had been transferred to bank accounts in Malaysia on the same day the victims performed their transaction. With help from Malaysia's National Scam Response Centre, more than $19,000 in total was successfully recovered in the bank accounts in Malaysia. "A transnational threat requires a transnational response. No single jurisdiction has an adequate answer to this scourge, but we are collectively stronger together," said David Chew, director of SPF's Commercial Affairs Department. "By combining our resources and enforcement capabilities, we are creating a united front against scam. We will continue strengthening these international partnerships to ensure our citizens are safe from scams and scammers have no safe haven." [[nid:718598]]
AsiaOne
05-06-2025
- AsiaOne
Over 1,800 arrested in cross-border anti-scam ops with losses amounting to $289m, Singapore News
Over 1,800 suspects were arrested by law enforcement agencies in seven Asian territories including Singapore in a month-long crackdown on scams. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a press release on Wednesday (June 4) that it had collaborated with anti-scam teams from Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, the Maldives, Thailand and Macao for the operation conducted between April 28 and May 28. Across the territories, 33,900 people aged between 14 and 81 were investigated for their suspected involvement in scam activities. SPF said they are believed to be involved in more than 9,200 scam cases, with victims reportedly losing over $289 million in total. More than 32,600 bank accounts suspected to be linked to scams were also detected and frozen by the seven law enforcement agencies, with more than $26.2 million seized. 106 arrested in Singapore In Singapore, 545 people were investigated during the operation, and another 106 people were arrested. They were involved in more than 1,300 local scam cases which resulted in losses of approximately $39.3 million, according to SPF. The police here also seized more than $7.69 million in 714 frozen bank accounts. At the start of the operation in end-April, SPF's Anti-Scam Centre foiled two separate cases of Chinese services impersonation scams with assistance from Malaysia's National Scam Response Centre. The two victims transferred $25,000 and $45,000 respectively to Singapore bank accounts provided by the scammer, before realising they had fallen for a scam. SPF said its Anti-Scam Centre analysed the funds trail and found that part of their funds had been transferred to bank accounts in Malaysia on the same day the victims performed their transaction. With help from Malaysia's National Scam Response Centre, more than $19,000 in total was successfully recovered in the bank accounts in Malaysia. "A transnational threat requires a transnational response. No single jurisdiction has an adequate answer to this scourge, but we are collectively stronger together," said David Chew, director of SPF's Commercial Affairs Department. "By combining our resources and enforcement capabilities, we are creating a united front against scam. We will continue strengthening these international partnerships to ensure our citizens are safe from scams and scammers have no safe haven." [[nid:718598]]
AsiaOne
01-06-2025
- AsiaOne
Over 170 travellers nabbed for evading GST, smuggling large sums of cash in island-wide operation, Singapore News
More than 170 travellers were caught across Singapore's land, air, and sea checkpoints for smuggling cash and evading tax payments on imported goods in a week-long multi-agency enforcement operation. Over 19,000 travellers and 1,600 vehicles were identified for the checks carried out from May 21 to May 27, according to a joint news release on Saturday (May 31). The operation involved the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Singapore Customs (Customs), National Parks Board (NParks), and Health Sciences Authority (HSA). Among those held, 14 foreigners — aged between 26 and 77 — were nabbed for moving cash exceeding $20,000 or the equivalent in foreign currency into and out of Singapore without declaration or with inaccurate declaration. One of these cases on May 24 involved three male travellers who were separately detected moving cash of various currencies valued between $22,938 and $541,000 into or out of Singapore without declaration. Of the 14, four were issued with Notices of Warning, while seven were issued with composition sums amounting to $27,000. The remaining three travellers are still undergoing investigations. According to the police, it is a crime not to report cash or currency of more than $20,000 when crossing Singapore's borders. If convicted, offenders will face a fine of up to $50,000, a jail term of up to three years, or both. The cash may also be confiscated. "We will take strict enforcement action against anyone who fails to make a full and accurate report of cash movements into or out of Singapore," said David Chew, director of the Commercial Affairs Department. Separately, 153 travellers were also caught for failing to declare and pay Goods and Services Tax (GST) on goods such as tobacco products, liquor, POPMART toys and undeclared luxury goods. In one case, a traveller was caught with four litres of Chinese liquor in excess of duty-free allowances. Another traveller was also caught with 20 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes. In total, the GST evaded amounted to $10,754 and $35,165 in composition sums were imposed. Under the Customs Act, those found guilty of the fraudulent evasion of customs or excise duties can face a fine of up to 20 times the amount evaded, or a jail term of up to two years. Travellers are also reminded to declare and make payment for taxable items prior to their arrival in Singapore. [[nid:710203]]
